Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Kilgore College

Kilgore, TX · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 3,133 in Kilgore, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $68,335 put Kilgore College's Physical Science Technologies/Technicians program 26% above the national median of $54,443 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 165.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Physical Science Technologies/Technicians programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Physical Science Technologies/Technicians's career paths, with 37% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $68,335 far exceeding the $14,417 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #2 of 17 nationally, this is a top-5% Physical Science Technologies/Technicians program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians offers 8 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

72 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
69
Low End
72
Score
74
High End
Earnings $68,335/yr (26% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (63% shielded)
Job Market Large (40,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$68K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
165.5x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
7 of 7
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,320
Out-of-state: $10,512
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,417
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,154
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Chemical plant and system operators $73,540 -6.1% 85%
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other $60,130 +3.5% 45%
Hydrologic technicians $58,570 -2.1% 50%
Chemical plant and system operators
$73,540
-6.1% growth 85% AI-proof
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
$60,130
+3.5% growth 45% AI-proof
Hydrologic technicians
$58,570
-2.1% growth 50% AI-proof

View all 7 career paths with full salary data →

About Physical Science Technologies/Technicians Careers

You could spend your day in a clean lab, preparing chemical solutions and running quality control tests on new materials using instruments like chromatographs and spectrometers. Or, you might be on a manufacturing floor as a chemical equipment operator, monitoring pressure gauges and controlling the complex machinery that produces everything from pharmaceuticals to plastics. As a physical science technician, you are the hands-on expert who makes science work in the real world.

Read the full Physical Science Technologies/Technicians career guide →

Compare & Explore

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians Overview

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Other Schools

Other Majors at Kilgore College

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Kilgore College?
This program scores 72/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
How affordable is Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Kilgore College?
Median debt of just $14,417 against $68,335/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What makes Kilgore College's Physical Science Technologies/Technicians program stand out?
The #2 ranking out of 17 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Yes — 8 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Physical Science Technologies/Technicians career paths, including Chemical Engineering Technician. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →